Barn Swallow – Dhahran Percolation Pond

Whilst birding the Percolation Pond in Dhahran in late October I have seen a few Barn Swallows flying over in various places in Dhahran. In late October a small group of 20 Barn Swallow were seen feeding over the lake and as I don’t have too many photos of Barn Swallow in flight, I tied my luck at photographing them. Below are my best efforts. Barn Swallow is one of the most common passage migrants in Saudi Arabia (March – May & September – October) but some birds stay well into December most years. It can be seen everywhere and often for much of the year. In addition, a few have recently been recorded breeding near Riyadh where it is a rare breeder and other are thought to breed near Jubail where birds have been seen throughout the year and with juveniles in late summer.

Sand Martin – Dhahran Percolation Pond

Whilst birding the Percolation Pond in Dhahran in late October I managed to photograph a single Sand Martin, a species I seldom get the chance to photograph. The top photograph the bird is the process of trying to catch a flying insect. The bird was alone in a group of over twenty Barn Swallows, Sand Martin is a very common passage migrant throughout Saudi Arabia with over 2,000 recorded at Dawmat al-Jandal reservoir, Northwest Saudi Arabia in April one year. A few occur in winter, but these may be late passage birds rather than true wintering individuals. Summer records are rare, and breeding has not been recorded.

Northern Lapwing - Dhahran Hills Football Fields

Alma Swartz found a Northern Lapwing Vanellus vanellus on the Cricket/Football Fields a few days ago and although both Alma and Eric saw it again, I failed every time I visited. They told me the bird was skittish and did not like it when it saw anyone, which would make it difficult to photograph even if I did see it. On 31 October I finally manged to locate the bird on the football fields although it was at the very back, I managed to find a place where I could drive the car close to it and took the below photos. Even here with me in the car the bird flew once as a Eurasian Collared Dove landed near it and it took fright. Abd it did not tolerate anything near it. I have only seen the species three times on the camp in Dhahran, once very close to this location in November 2017 and twice flying over with one in winter 2020 and three in November 2023. The Birds of the Eastern Province 1989 mentioned Northern Lapwing were a scarce and somewhat irregular visitor with records from November to early April but chiefly from November through January.  In 1979-71 up to 15 wintered in Dhahran but this proved to be exceptional, showing how large this flock was. Elsewhere in Saudi Arabia, high counts have been at 425 at Haradh 5 February 2016, at Al Safi Dairy farm, Central Province, where at least 111 individuals were seen 25 January 2001. Birds of Thumamah 1988-1994 said maximum numbers were 100 in the winter 1992/1993. Its status in the Kingdom is as an uncommon winter visitor to all areas north of a line from Hofuf, through Riyadh to Hail. Small flocks of birds have been seen this November at a couple of sites near Jubail with the largest count being 26.

Ferruginous Ducks – Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Whilst birding the Waste Water Lake in the very early morning, I located the seven Ferruginous Ducks again, with three flying in and landing and four sitting on the dry bank of the lake. These birds have now been around for more than a month and may stay for the winter. The Ferruginous Duck is an uncommon passage migrant, winter visitor and a rare breeder with most birds occurring from September to April. The species is currently listed as Near Threatened and prefers shallower and more vegetated areas than other Aythya species and seldom sits out on open water. Sightings have been increasing in recent years, with breeding occurring in Jubail, but they remain uncommon. Birds have started to be seen each winter in small numbers in Dhahran, where they may be same returning wintering birds each year.

Waders on the Cricket Field – Dhahran

Waders are still feeding on the Cricket Field at Dhahran with the regular three Whimbrel seen every day with these birds unable to get used to the people who use the field and fly well before anyone get close to them. Kentish Plover numbers vary from several individuals to over fifty, with the large numbers presumably migrants. A Lesser Sand Plover was present for a single day and ruff occasionally drop in and stay for a couple of days before moving off. Three Little Stint were also present on one day as was a Common Snipe. Yellow Wagtail were around in good numbers still but much reduced from the hundreds of previous weeks.

Kentish Plover

Kentish Plover

Ruff

Ruff

Whimbrel

Whimbrel

Whimbrel

Whimbrel

Whimbrel

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Great Cormorant numbers building - Dhahran Waste Water Lake

Good numbers of Great Cormorant can be seen in the very early morning flying around Dhahran Waste Water Lake. Some of the birds just come and wash, briefly fish and fly off with others staying for longer periods in the area. The species is a common winter visitor to the Eastern Province where thousands have roosted in the trees nearby in recent winters, but do not do so now. They are also abundant in coastal waters from September through March including the Jubail and the Half-Moon Bay area of the Arabian Gulf. The birds in Dhahran are not disturbed by people walking past the edge of the lake and remain on the lake fishing more often than not.

Dammam Port seafront area

One evening looking at Dammam Port waterfront area produced a few birds. House Crows were common with fifty plus seen standing on the water edge and nearby areas. They are common near many ports as they probably came to the Kingdom by boar originally. A single White-winged Tern was feeding in the fading light and two Black-necked Grebes were far offshore in front of several thousand Slender-billed Gulls. A good variety of waders were seen including Ruff, Marsh Sandpiper, Common Sandpiper, Grey Plover, Lesser Sand Plover, Greater Sand Plover, Spotted Redshank, Common Redshank, Kentish Plover, Common Ringed Plover, Curlew Sandpiper, Eurasian Curlew and Dunlin. A few Greater Flamingo were offshore with several flying around and landing after a while.

White-winged Tern

White-winged Tern

White-winged Tern

White-winged Tern

House Crow

Greater Flamingo

Greater Flamingo

Greater Sand Plover – Al Uqair

Whilst birding at Al Uqair in October I photographed a few Greater Sand Plover on the edge of the Arabian Gulf. Greater Sand Plover breeds from Turkey to Mongolia and winters 1,000–10,000 km south and southwest along the coasts of northern and eastern Africa, Arabia and Pakistan to Australia. In Saudi Arabia it is an extremely rare breeding migrant, common passage migrant, common winter visitor occurring widely throughout Saudi Arabia on migration (Feb–Apr, Aug–Sep), especially on the coasts. It can be found in coastal areas over winter (Oct–Feb), while some birds remain over summer and rarely stay and breed.